Port Arthur native DeAndre Nico had a goal when he stood in front of the four judges on NBC television’s The Voice and sang his version of Bruno Mars’ “When I was Your Man.”

He wanted to see all four judges — Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson — hit the red button and turn their chairs to face him.

“I was expecting a four-chair turn,” Nico said during a conference call that included The Port Arthur News on Wednesday.

“It was a goal of mine. That’s what I expected but when it happened that was amazing. It was a tremendous feeling. Everything was, wow.”

Nico, 22, of Houston, has secured a spot on Team Adam (Levine) in season 15 of The Voice, which airs on NBC. The reason he chose Levine? He made a vow to himself that whoever turned around first he would choose and he stuck to his word.

He described what it’s like working with the singer-songwriter.

“Adam’s a great guy. Really down to earth,” he said. “He tells us what we need to hear and don’t cut no wooden nickels. He’s trying to help us in every area he can,” he said.

Nico’s family was right alongside, and on camera at times, during his performance and the judging portion. He laughed at how much fun his dad was having and said the experience of being out there on stage, in that moment the judges were fighting over him, was all really emotional.

“To have your family there supporting you and the crowd was going crazy, that’s something a lot of people don’t experience. I’m grateful,” he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuXtS4rOTzM

Harvey’s flooding

In an earlier filmed segment of the show, Nico told of the devastation of Tropical Storm Harvey. His family’s home in Port Arthur was destroyed by the historic flooding and went two days without food, water or electricity until they were rescued by boat.

Even now, more than a year after the storm, some residents of Port Arthur have yet to return to their homes and the city’s library has not reopened yet. The majority of the area has bounced back.

 

Nico’s singing

DeAndre Nico isn’t new to singing on stage. A look at Port Arthur News archives shows:

• A photo of Nico singing a solo with the DeQueen Elementary School Choir during the city’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, January 2005

• In 2006, he was among the winners in the PTA Reflections Cultural Arts contest- in musical composition.
• At the age of 11, Nico performed on Showtime at the Apollo in a kids segment where he sang “Wind Beneath my Wings.”

• In 2012 was listed as a singer in Port Arthur City Council of PTA’s “Night of Talent.
• Known for gospel singing and released a CD in 2015.

His performance this week was touted across different social media platforms with even Port Arthur Mayor Derrick Freeman telling people to tune in and watch Nico.